Convertible transport container with plural funnel-type outlets

ABSTRACT

A rectangular, stackable shipping container having top filling openings, a dustproof end closure in the form of hinged doors, and a plurality of collapsible funnel discharge openings. The funnels occupy a minimum amount of space when collapsed and enable the full use of the available container volume.

United States Patent lnventor Artur Spitzer Mosbach, Baden, Germany Appl. No. 755,284 Filed Aug. 26, 1968 Patented May 25, 1971 Assignee Ludwig Spitzer Sen. KG

(Kommanditgesellschaft) Sonnenhalde, Germany Priority Oct. 9, 1967 Germany S1 12326 CONVERTIBLE TRANSBORT CONTAINER WITH PLURAL F UNNEL-TYPE OUTLETS 6 Claims, 13 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 222/461, 222/482, 222/529, 222/530 Int. Cl B67c 11/00 Field of Search 222/527- [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Rel6,842 1/1928 Hampton 222/53OX 2,202,652 5/1940 Glidden 222/529 2,222,083 11/1940 Lintz 2l4/38(42) 2,804,242 8/1957 Borah 222/527X 2,894,666 7/1959 Campbell, Jr. 222/528 3,042,271 7/1962 Winstead 222/529 3,093,273 6/1963 Borah 222/527 1,733,905 10/1929 Randolph 222/482 2,828,028 3/1958 Sullenbarger et a1. 214/8318 3,009,587 11/1961 Pickrell, Jr. 214/15D Primary ExaminerSamuel F. Coleman Attorney-Sughrue,Rothwell, Mion, Zinn & Macpeak ABSTRACT: A rectangular, stackable shipping container having top filling openings, a dustproof end closure in the form of hinged doors, and a plurality of collapsible funnel discharge openings. The funnels occupy a minimum amount of space when collapsed and enable the full use of the available container volume.

II] b PATENTEU W25 Ian 3580.434

SHEET 2 OF 3 PATENTEU HAY25 |97I SHEET 3 BF 3 CONVERTIBLE TRANSPORT CONTAINER WITH 'PLURAL FUNNEL-TYPE OUTLETS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a square-shaped transport container or box capable of being stacked with other such containers and having a supply opening extending over one end of the box and adapted to be closed by an access door.

2. Prior Art A known container of this kind is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,118,559 and is used for conveying miscellaneous loads of various kinds and consisting of separate articles or cases of a relatively solid nature, such loads being hereinafter referred to as sundries." In the known container such sundries are loaded and unloaded through the same opening. Containers of this kind are capable of being stacked one upon the other and their outer dimensions are suited one to the other and to the loading spaces in question for example in ships and road vehicles. These containers have proved ideal for sundries traffic but are unsuitable for loose or bulk material since the supply opening for sundries is not suitable for supplying and emptying the flowable bulk material and since the access doors used are not sufficiently tight. In many cases sundries are required at one point and flowable material, for example, granulate or pulverized foodstuffs, chemicals or building materials are available for a return load. It would therefore be advantageous to provide a container suitable for both types of goods.

Known containers for flowable materials such as shown in US Pat. No. 2,222,083 and British Pat. No. 1,020,800 are, however, unsuitable for conveying sundries since neither the outlet for flowable material nor the inlet for such material is suitable by reason of its dimensions for supplying the container with nonflowable sundries. If the container is provided as a cylindrical pressure container it cannot be stressed for local internal loads such as may be produced when conveying sundries and such pressure containers are not stackable and therefore not appropriate for container transport procedures.

SUMMARY In order to carry out the transport of flowable and nonflowable materials with' one and the same container there is provided according to the invention, a container of the aforesaid type which is suitable for sundries traffic and is constructed so that it is moreover suitable for flowable material transport. The invention is characterized by a dusttight construction of the access door and by at least one closable outflow opening for flowable material at the mouth of a funnel fitted at the edge of the funnel opening into the wall of the filling chamber of the box and by at least one closable filling opening for flowable material.

The invention is based on a container for sundries which is made suitable for the conveyance of flowable bulk material by additional outflow and inlet openings. The boxlike container arranged for sundries transport is suitable without additional stiffening measures for the uniform internal pressure loading of a charge of flowable material. The additional entry openings for flowable material which are to be provided do not involve any particular problem. They could easily be fitted with the associated closure members within the square box configuration so that the stackability is maintained. Space must be found for the funnel at the outlet opening for the flowable material. If the funnel is arranged within the box or if it is arranged externally of the box but so that the box with the funnel remains within the same square configuration, the volume available is restricted. Moreover, in the latter case, problems arise with regard to stackability.

The present invention solves this problem by providing an outflow part of a funnel adapted to be collapsed in the direction of the funnel axis, the edge of the filling opening having a smaller spacing to the side of the box on which the funnel is fitted than the length of the funnel up to the outflow opening for flowable material. A closure cover is provided covering the whole collapsible section of the funnel from the outside. In this construction of the invention the flexible part of the funnel can be collapsed so that it occupies only a little space so long as it is not in use. It is used only for emptying flowable material and for this purpose the collapsible part of the funnel can be drawn out by opening the closure cover so that the drawn-out funnel is available over its whole length for the outflow of flowable material. The whole funnel can naturally also be arranged to be collapsed in the same way.

In another embodiment of the invention in which the funnel does not substantially affect the filling volume, a flowable material outflow opening is arranged in a corner region of the box body and at least one wall of the box body at the comer is embodied in the funnel so that it forms the funnel together with rigid surface elements inclined to the normal box walls. In this arrangement the invention makes use of the fact that the walls running out to the comer of a box body already run together in the manner of a rudimentary funnel so that only a small number of wall surfaces are needed to provide a complete funnel. It is sufiicient then to incline the container for emptying so that the funnel is directed vertically as nearly downwardly as possible in order that the flowable material can flow from the opened outlet opening.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG.'1 shows a container according to the invention in vertical longitudinal section with three exit funnels for flowable material, two of which are shown in the delivery position while the third is located in the conveyance position;

FIG. 2 is a horizontal longitudinal section on the arrows II-II in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a transverse section of FIG. 1, the left-hand section of FIG. 3 being according to the arrows Illa/Illa and in the right-hand half as seen in the direction of the arrows IIlb/Illb;

FIG. 4 is a half view corresponding to the arrow IV in FIG. 1 of a modified second constructional example seen in section;

FIG. 5 is a view according to FIG. 1 of part of the construction of a collapsible funnel of a third constructional example;

FIG. 6 is a view according to FIG. 1 showing part of the construction of a collapsible funnel of a fourth constructional example;

FIG. 7 is a view according to FIG. 1 showing part of the construction of a collapsible funnel of a further constructional example; 8b

FIG. 8 is a view in perspective showing the constructional example of FIGS. 1 to 3, FIG. 8a showing a functional position in which flowable material is emptied, and FIG. 8b in a functional position in which the container is loaded or unloaded with sundries material;

FIG. 9 shows in perspective the second constructional example according to FIG. 4, FIG. 9a showing a functional position in which it is supplied with flowable material FIG. 9b in a functional position in which the flowable material is emptied,

.FIG. 9c in a functional position in which the container is loaded or unloaded with sundries material, and FIG. 9d in a functional position in which the container loaded with sundries material is transported; and

FIG. 10 shows in perspective a sixth example of a container according to the invention, FIG. 10a being in a functional position in which it is emptied of flowable material and FIG. 10b in a functional position in which it may be supplied with sundries material or may be emptied of sundries material and in which it can also be transported.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The container according to FIGS. 1 to 3 has a square-shape box body which embodies stacking connections I at its corners so that it may be stacked with similar containers. The container can be opened at one end, and is closed in a dusttight manner by a two-leafed access door 2. Resilient sealing strips 3 are provided to give a dusttight seal. For opening the access door 2 the two flaps are folded outwardly so that a supply opening 4 is left extending over the whole width of the end and through which the container can be charged or discharged with sundries material. During transport the access door 2 is closed in a dusttight manner.

Three filling openings 6 for fiowable material are provided along the centerline of the top wall, spaced from one another and adapted to be closed by screw-on covers 7 which do not project above the support surface of stacking'members 1 when in position. If the container is to be supplied with fiowable material filling openings 6 are opened and the flowable material is filled in through these openings with access door 2 closed in a dusttight manner. For transport fiowable material filling openings 6 are again closed by covers 7. Three outlet openings 9, 10, 11 for the fiowable material are provided in the bottom wall 8 of the container along the centerline thereof, each outlet opening being adapted to be closed by a respective cover 12, 13, 14. Outlet opening 9 is at the same time the mouth of a funnel 15 consisting of flexible material and adapted to be collapsed in the direction of the funnel axis 18 as shown in the case of funnel 17. Outlet opening 11 forms the mouth of funnel l7 and the outlet opening forms the mouth of the funnel 16.

All three funnels are formed of flexible material and are adapted to be collapsed in the manner described. The three funnels are fitted at the edges 20 thereof to the bottom wall of the chamber part 22 of the container, that is to say, that the chamber 22 is terminated at the bottom by the funnels 15, 16 and 17. The entry openings 21 of the funnels extend over practically the whole cross section of the filling chamber so that the flowable material, which flows out of the funnels when expanded, passes from chamber 22 directly into funnels 15, 16 and 17.

Crossmembers 23 to 26 are arranged between the funnels and at the two ends of the container to provide a narrow bottom region which is not spanned by the funnel entry openings 21 but has little effect on the flow of the material since it only represents a very small surface area.

The bottom wall of the container consists of three rectangular closure covers 27 to 29 which are fastened to the mouth of the associated funnels to 17. Closure covers 27 to 29 can be screwed to two of the crossmembers 25 to 26 in each case, as shown for the cover 29, for which purpose it must be forced upwardly from the lower position indicated for the covers 27 and 28. Thereby the associated funnels are collapsed and folded as shown in the case of the funnel 17.

In this position, i.e. that shown for the funnel 17, the funnel occupies much less space in the direction of the funnel axis and the base wall, that is the closure cover 29, has a much smaller spacing from the edge of the filling opening of the funnel 17 than would correspond to the total length 30 of the drawn-out funnel.

The closure covers 27, 28, 29 are brought into the position indicated for the closure cover 29 when supplying the container with flowable material and remain in this position even during transport. Closure covers 27, 28 and 29 can be unscrewed so that they can be lowered to the position shown for the covers 27, 28, but this applies only for emptying the flowable material from the container. The flowable material can now flow out of outlet openings 9 to 11 after the covers 12 to 14 have been unscrewed. Since entry openings 21 of the fun- ,nels extend over substantially the whole filling cross section,

the fiowable material flows out without leaving any substantial residue.

If sundries are to be conveyed in the container, the funnels are collapsed as indicated for funnel 17 and closure covers 27 to 29 are screwed up. If no special measures are taken the articles then come directly into contact with the folded funnels. This can be avoided in various ways, for example by turning the container through l80 on its longer axis so that the funnels are now in the ceiling. If the load does not extend to the ceiling, it does not come into contact with the funnels and cannot damage them.

In the case of bulky articles, it may be desirable to cover the funnels. For this purpose two folding cover panels can be pivotally supported internally of the container along the two longitudinal edges, which when folded down on to the bottom or floor 8 completely covering the floor and thus the funnels, as will be seen particularly from the right-hand part of FIG. 2. When raised the two folding cover panels lie tightly against the two sidewalls and thus provide no hindrance for supply and emptying. This will be seen particularly well from the lefthand part of FIG. 2 in which the folding panels are shown broken away.

When filling with fiowable material, the two folding panels 31 and 32 are raised and, in order that no fiowable material can fall between the sidewalls and the folding panels, a sealing bar 33, 34 is fastened at its upper edge to the associated sidewall so that the lower edge hangs freely. This lower edge can be folded over the free edge of the folding cover panel so that the gaps between the panels and the sidewalls of the container are covered as will be seen particularly clearly from the left-hand section of FIG. 3.

In the constructional example shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 the members of the access door 2 are movable about an axis parallel to the plane of FIG. 1. This axis is running parallel to the funnel axis 18. In the constructional example according to FIG. 4 the funnel axis 40 is perpendicular to the pivot axis 41 around which the right-hand member 42 for the access door 43 of the sundries supply opening 44 swings. The left-hand member, not shown in FIG. 4, swings around the pivot axis 45 which likewise is perpendicular to the funnel axis 40.

The constructional example according to FIG. 4 can be understood by reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, but noting that the access door 2 is attached at to the longitudinal axis of the container. There are no other differences between the two examples. The supply and emptying of flowable material is effected in one position of the container in which the pivot axes 41 and 45 are upright. In this position shown in FIG. 4 inserted sundries loads do not come directly upon the collapsed funnels only one of which, namely the funnel 46, is shown in FIG. 4. When the container according to FIG. 4 is used for flowable material then it is rotated for this purpose through 90 about the longitudinal axis of the container so that the funnel 46 points downwardly or forms the bottom wall of the container.

FIG. 5 shows a modified construction of a funnel which can be used in conjunction with FIGS. 1 to 4. According to FIG. 5 a funnel 50 of flexible material is provided which is shown folded together and can be extended downwardly to the emptying position shown in chain-dot lines on opening the closure cover 51. The closure cover 51 is not in this embodiment fixed to themouth of the funnel 50 and also embodies no opening for the outlet of the flowable material. It is arranged as a flap and is pivotally supported on one longitudinal edge of the container-in this case on the side of FIG. 5 remote from the viewer-and is adapted to be locked on the opposite side. When the lock is released the closure cover can swing downwardly to the position shown in chain-dotted lines. The outlet 52 for fiowable material is adapted to be fixed to the mouth of the funnel 50 by a separate closure 53 which is only opened when the funnel has been lowered to the position shown in dotted lines whereupon the flowable material can now flow out.

- The funnel S0 is releasably secured by the edge 54 of its entry opening 55 by means of screws 56. If these screws are released, the funnel together with the closure 53 can be removed from the container. If bulky sundries are conveyed in this container it is possible in this embodiment to protect the funnel from damage by removing it and carrying it separately. Before the container is filled with flowable material the funnel 50 is again inserted as indicated in full lines in FIG. 5.

FIG. 6 shows another arrangement of the funnel which can also be used in conjunction with FIGS. 1 to 4. In FIG. 6 the funnel is shown in full lines in the collapsed condition and in dotted lines in the extended condition and consists of conical rings 61 to 63 of relatively rigid material which are fitted concentrically one within the other and when they are pulled downwardly they assemble to form a funnel, as indicated in dotted lines, by reason of their conical shape. The closure cover 64 is fastened to the mouth 65 of the funnel as in the case of the first embodiment and embodies in line with the funnel an opening 66 which is adapted to be closed by a separate closure cover 67. The closure cover is held in place when collapsed by means of screws as described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

FIG. 7 shows a further construction of a collapsible funnel 70 which can be used in conjunction with FIGS. 1 to 4. This funnel 70 differs from the funnels of FIGS. 1 to 4 by the fact that the upper part 71 of the funnel on the entry side is formed of rigid material. In this case this is the part which, even when the funnel is extended, does not extend downwardly beyond the space available for the collapsed funnel. The outflow section 72 of the funnel is formed of flexible material and can be folded upwardly as indicated.

As mentioned, the pivot axes of the access door 2 are parallel to the funnel axes in the embodiments according to FIGS. 1 to 3. During emptying of flowable material this container is located in the position shown in FIG. 8a in which all three funnels 15, 16, 17 are extended downwardly while the access doors 2 are closed. If sundries material is to be conveyed by this container then it is desirable to rotate the container through 180 to the position shown in FIG. 8b. The access door 2 now again is movable about a vertical axis as is appropriate for convenient handling. The funnels are located in the ceiling region of the container and are not stressed by the sundries load so that in some circumstances the flaps or cover panels 31 and 32 are superfluous for this manner of operation.

In the constructional example according to FIG. 4 the arrangements of the axes are somewhat different. In this arrangement the filling of the container with flowable material is efiected in the position shown in FIG. 90, that is with the funnels in the contracted position, and emptying is effected in the same position as shown in FIG. 91; but with the funnels extended. For conveying sundries this container is rotated through 90 about its longitudinal axis into the positions according to FIGS. 90 or 9d. FIG. 90 shows the access door 43 open for handling sundries the leaves being in this position swung open about vertical axes and FIG. 9d shows the container with the doors 43 closed for conveying the load of sundries.

FIG. 10 shows in perspective a further constructional example of a container in two functional positions. In this case the opening 80 for loading sundries is arranged at one end and is adapted to be closed in a dusttight way by means of a twopart access door 81. A filling opening 83 for flowable material is provided in one of the closure doors 82 and is adapted to be closed separately by a cover adapted to be screwed on the door 82. For supplying flowable material the container is placed upright as shown in FIG, 10a and with the access door 81 closed the flowable material inlet opening 83 is opened and the flowable material is introduced therethrough. For emptying the flowable material a single outlet opening is provided at the opposite end, i.e. the lower end of FIG. 10a, with a collapsible funnel 84 which is shown in full lines in FIG. 10a in the position which it adopts only when the flowable material is to be delivered.

The entry opening of the funnel extends over the whole cross section of the filling area of this container. Otherwise the funnel with its fastening and support means is arranged in the same way as the funnel of FIG. 1. The closure cover 85 is fastened to the mouth of the funnel 84 in this example in the same way as the closure cover 27 and is screwed to the container when conveying sundries, as shown in FIG. 10b to form one end of the container. Sundries are loaded through the opened access doors 81 in the other end, with the container in the position shown in FIG. 10b. The container filled with flowable material is also conveyed in the horizontal position,

that is to sa inthe position shown in FIG. 10b.

While t e invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. An elongated rectangular container for both flowable and nonflowable material adapted to be stacked with similar containers in substantially surface-to-surface contact comprising:

a. four substantially flat rigid sidewalls;

b. a substantially flat rigid base connected to said four sidewalls;

c. a substantially flat rigid top member connected to said four sidewalls;

d. a loading opening in and covering substantially one of said sidewalls for sundries;

e. a dustproof closure for said loading opening;

f. means defining at least one filling opening for flowable material on said top member;

g. closure means for said filling opening adapted to maintain a substantially flat top member;

h. means defining a closable outflow opening for flowable material on said base, said outflow opening having a collapsible funnel in and covering substantially the entire base member with its large entry opening disposed at said base member; and

i. a movable rigid outside cover panel provided for said funnel to cover said funnel and maintain a substantially flat surface for said base member.

2. A container according to claim 1 wherein a part of said funnel on the entry side comprises rigid stationary surface elements which at their outlet edge have a smaller spacing from the side of the box member to which the funnel is directed than corresponds to the length of the remaining part of the funnel up to the outlet opening for flowable material and that this remaining part of the funnel on the outflow side is collapsible in the direction of the funnel axis.

3. A container according to claim 1 characterized in that the collapsible part consists of flexible material.

4. An elongated rectangular container adapted to be stacked with similar containers comprising:

a. a loading opening for sundries;

b. a dustproof closure for said loading opening;

c. means defining at least one filling opening for flowable material on a first wall of said container;

d. closure means for said filling opening;

e. means defining at least one closable outflow opening for flowable material on another wall of said container, said outflow opening having a funnel with its large entry opening disposed at said outer wall; and

f. a cover panel provided for the funnel to cover the funnel from the inside of said container, said panel being movable from a covering position in which it isolates the interior of said container from the funnel to a noncovering inoperative position.

5. A container according to claim 4 wherein the cover panel embodies two leaves which are pivotally supported on opposite sides of the edges of the funnel-filling opening, and that a sealing strip is provided for one pivotal leaf to protect the free edge located in the resting position.

6. A container according to claim 1 wherein said funnel is removably supported in the container. 

1. An elongated rectangular container for both flowable and nonflowable material adapted to be stacked with similar containers in substantially surface-to-surface contact comprising: a. four substantially flat rigid sidewalls; b. a substantially flat rigid base connected to said four sidewalls; c. a substantially flat rigid top member connected to said four sidewalls; d. a loading opening in and covering substantially one of said sidewalls for sundries; e. a dustproof closure for said loading opening; f. means defining at least one filling opening for flowable material on said top member; g. closure means for said filling opening adapted to maintain a substantially flat top member; h. means defining a closable outflow opening for flowable material on said base, said outflow opening having a collapsible funnel in and covering substantially the entire base member with its large entry opening disposed at said base member; and i. a movable rigid outside cover panel provided for said funnel to cover said funnel and maintain a substantially flat surface for said base member.
 2. A container according to claim 1 wherein a part of said funnel on the entry side comprises rigid stationary surface elements which at their outlet edge have a smaller spacing from the side of the box member to which the funnel is directed than corresponds to the length of The remaining part of the funnel up to the outlet opening for flowable material and that this remaining part of the funnel on the outflow side is collapsible in the direction of the funnel axis.
 3. A container according to claim 1 characterized in that the collapsible part consists of flexible material.
 4. An elongated rectangular container adapted to be stacked with similar containers comprising: a. a loading opening for sundries; b. a dustproof closure for said loading opening; c. means defining at least one filling opening for flowable material on a first wall of said container; d. closure means for said filling opening; e. means defining at least one closable outflow opening for flowable material on another wall of said container, said outflow opening having a funnel with its large entry opening disposed at said outer wall; and f. a cover panel provided for the funnel to cover the funnel from the inside of said container, said panel being movable from a covering position in which it isolates the interior of said container from the funnel to a noncovering inoperative position.
 5. A container according to claim 4 wherein the cover panel embodies two leaves which are pivotally supported on opposite sides of the edges of the funnel-filling opening, and that a sealing strip is provided for one pivotal leaf to protect the free edge located in the resting position.
 6. A container according to claim 1 wherein said funnel is removably supported in the container. 